Rachael Ray Talks About Her Upcoming Surgery

Rachael Ray is known for her outsized personality, but the TV chef and talk show host is planning an uncharacteristically quiet Christmas celebration this year.

"I'm having voice surgery on Dec. 16, so we're going to celebrate very quietly," Ray, 40, confessed at Rosie's Gala, a charity event hosted by Rosie O'Donnell on Monday night.

Though talking is big part of her job, Ray isn't worried about the surgery. "A lot of people have told me about the surgery and they say the hardest part is just being quiet," laughed Ray, who plans to carry a pencil and paper around to communicate with husband John Cusimano before she resumes taping The Rachael Ray Show in January. "I'm going to grow back the callous I had in grade school from writing."

And contrary to earlier reports, the surgery is not risky – or related to throat cancer. "It's fine, it's just a little bump," said Ray. "I need to get rid of it though."

In October, Ray's rep described the procedure as "very minor surgery to remove a benign cyst on her vocal cord."